It didn't take Elizabeth long to realize she needed to keep her weight centered between Georgiana's wings, even while leaning forward to hug her neck, or she would throw off her balance. It was an awkward position, but it took concentration which helped keep her centered even while her and Euphrosyne's mutual desperation threatened to overcome everything else. But as she grew accustomed to flying less concentration was needed. What was it Mr. Darcy had told her to do?
"...you must continue to dwell within what you can see, touch, hear, etc. … you must not let Euphrosyne's panic overwhelm you"
See… the stars… touch… Georgiana's feathers… the pressure in my legs… Euphrosyne's panic grew stronger as they drew closer, what else? Hear…the flapping of Georgiana's wings... feel…the cold air rushing through her hair, what else, what else? If only Mr. Darcy could be with her… they were close now.
Georgiana went into a dive as Elizabeth leaned forward as far as she could. They were heading for a window. "NO!"
Suddenly Elizabeth realized the danger. She pulled back with all her strength, "Georgiana, NO! Land nearby. We promised Darcy! Land nearby."
Georgiana turned and did as Elizabeth asked. Mr. Darcy had not told her how to dismount, so Elizabeth simply jumped. She landed hard and fell forward, banging her knees, but she hopped back up and turned to Georgiana saying, "Please go and get Darcy. We need… he needs you. Darcy needs you! Please go to him."
Elizabeth could tell Georgiana did not like leaving when they were so close to Euphrosyne, but she made a noise of assent and flew off. Elizabeth walked toward the building they had been approaching, it was an Inn that looked like it had seen better days. The window they had been heading toward had a small balcony and Elizabeth felt as if every part of her being were pulling her to climb to it as the shortest distance to Phrosy but logically there was no easy way for her to climb to it. She took a step in the opposite direction and froze. It was as if a heavy tether was pulling her toward the window. She took a deep breath feeling the cold air filling her lungs. She had to at least try the front door. She tried to step forward, but the tether held her back. She took another deep breath thinking of the cold air, the stiffness in her legs, the sound of someone inside laughing. It wasn't working. She took a stumbling step backward. She bit down hard on her tongue. The pain, the taste of blood, finally brought her enough to herself that she was able to move forward. As she approached the front door, she let down a second skirt that Rachel had pinned up around her waist. At the time Elizabeth had thought it a needless delay but now she was glad it would make her look more presentable. Or at least to the extent that a windblown woman entering an Inn alone, in the dead of night could look presentable. Maybe she ought to have tried the climb.
Elizabeth entered the Inn. As she stepped inside the tether between herself and Euphrosyne changed direction and pulled her toward a set of stairs on the opposite side of the room, which must now be the shortest distance between them. Even at this hour, the common room was noisy and crowded. Several people were stretched out sleeping on the floor despite the din. They were a rough-looking group of people, but none seemed to take any notice of her as Elizabeth headed toward the stairs. She dashed up the steps to a third-floor landing and approached one of the rooms knowing Euphrosyne was on the other side of the door.
Elizabeth paused wondering what to do, what she might say to get those inside to let her in, her need making it difficult for her to think.
As she hesitated Elizabeth heard voices coming from inside. "It isn't working." The voice was familiar.
"Let me try a little longer. I've seen how Miss Bennet feeds her. She will eat for me when she gets hungry enough." That was Harriet Younge's voice.
"No. I have seen this before." It was Mr. Wickham! "We must take all her claws now and then you will return her to Miss Bennet. We'll come up with a story about how you rescued her. Miss Bennet will be too thankful to have her back to question it. You will be the big heroine, probably get a reward beyond what we will make on the claws."
Harriet hesitated, "But all at once while she is still so small? Surely that is dangerous."
"Better than letting her starve."
Sensing that Elizabeth was close Euphrosyne started squawking loudly.
"For God's sake shut her up!"[i]
Elizabeth could no longer contain herself, she yanked on the door, and failing to budge it, pounded on it with her fists shouting, "Hariett, let me in! Please! I can feed her. I just want to feed her!"
The door opened and Elizabeth was dragged inside. She tried to lung toward Euphrosyne, but Wickham jerked her back hissing, "How did you find us?"
"Please" Elizabeth begged Harriett as she stretched her arms toward Euphrosyne, "If I can just touch her, she will calm. Please."
Harriett gave her a brief nod and handed her bonded to her. Elizabeth took her and cuddled her, making soft murmuring noises feeling Euphrosyne's relief and confusion.
Harriet said to Wickham, "Well? You wanted them quiet! Even in a place like this someone would notice the two of them squawking like that!"
"I thought you drugged her." Wickham finally let go of her and Elizabeth sunk to the floor still cuddling Phrosy.
"I did drug her," Harriet replied. "It should have worked."
"It did work." Elizabeth said, "It was because of the bond. Her fear was so strong I woke." She looked toward Harriet. "You were trying to feed her. May I feed her?"
Harriet handed her some broth as she said to Wickham, "You're the one who is supposed to know about Griffins."
"I didn't know the bond could overcome being drugged. How could I know that? You probably did not give her enough."
"I gave her more than enough. Now what are we to do? Miss Bennet knows who we are."
"We have come too far to turn back now. We will have to take the claws and then make our escape."
"No! You can…you can take me with you. Let her get bigger and I will stay with you and take care of her. Keep her quiet. Please I will do anything to stay with her."
Wickham raised an eyebrow, "Anything?"
Elizabeth held his gaze trying not to let her repulsion show. "For Phrosy, anything."
"You really love that bird[ii]. I am beginning to be glad I never bonded, the way it ties one down. It is not that I would not enjoy your companionship but there is Darcy."
"What about Darcy?" She tried to push down the flutter of hope she felt at the mention of his name. She had to keep Wickham talking. Keep him here or Georgiana would not know where to find them.
"He will look for you."
"He will not even know Harriet and I are missing until he wakes. And then what? He will not know in which direction we have gone. He can only circle the skies until he finds us. If we get away now before he starts looking, he will not find us. He will soon give up and assure himself he has done his duty. He will not have any reason to think you involved."
Wickham snickered, "Do not try to beat me at my own game Miss Bennet, if all Darcy can do is circle the skies we are better to stay here, under cover, until he gives up."
"No. Said Harriett. I have seen the way he looks at her. He will not give up so easily. We need to get as much distance as possible traveling in a way that will not be visible from above."
"We would need to sell at least one claw to get the money for a carriage." Wickham mused. "If you were to go out with a parasol, he would not know you from any other..."
The shutters came crashing open. Mr. Darcy sprang through the window and landed in the middle of the room. "Wickham!"
i From etymology online for "shut up": "The meaning 'cause to stop talking' is from 1814 (Jane Austen)." And I've found the same in other sources. (Lest anyone accuse me of an anachronism). Of course, Wickham could have also meant it in the sense of locking her away.
ii Calling a griffin a bird was an extremely vulgar insult.
AN: Thank you again for reading, favoriting and reviewing. I hope to get more written soon.